Executives from multiple US crypto and finance firms are set to join the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s next roundtable to discuss crypto trading regulations. The roundtable, titled “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading,”…

Uniswap, Coinbase, and NYSE execs to join SEC roundtable on crypto trading regulations

Wholesale bitcoin selling is cooling but not vanishing, Cryptoquant 
researchers write, as data flags a market tilted toward broad caution. 
Cryptoquant: Accumulation Rate Hits Two‑Month Lull Cryptoquant’s report 
observes that daily bitcoin ( BTC) outflows from large holders have retreated 
to 300,000 BTC, down from 800,000 BTC in late February, yet its analysts note 
the […]

Cryptoquant Report Flags Stalled Whale Accumulation, Miner Pressure Hits Bitcoin

XRP recent surge appears to be entering a cooling phase as the price edges 
lower to the $1.97 level, an area acting as a pivotal support. After a strong 
upward move fueled by improved market sentiment, the current pullback signals 
a potential pause rather than a full reversal. The $1.97 zone now stands as a 
critical support level, previously acting as resistance during XRP’s recent 
climb. If buyers step in with strength and volume begins to rise, this dip 
could prove to be a strategic entry point for those eyeing the next breakout. 
Key Support Holds At $1.97 – Is XRP Building A Base? XRP’s pullback to the 
$1.97 level has brought attention to the critical support zone that may serve 
as a foundation for the next leg up. Despite broader market fluctuations, 
price action has shown resilience around this area, with buyers stepping in to 
defend the level. Historically, $1.97 has acted as a pivotal point during 
previous rallies and corrections, increasing its significance as a potential 
accumulation zone. Related Reading: XRP Price Pulls Back: Healthy Correction 
or Start of a Fresh Downtrend? The Moving Average Convergence Divergence 
(MACD) indicator is beginning to flash early signs of a potential bullish 
reversal for XRP. After the recent dip to $1.97, the MACD line is showing 
signs of converging toward the signal line, hinting that bearish momentum may 
be losing steam. This subtle shift often precedes a reversal and suggests that 
buyers are gradually regaining control. Should the MACD complete a bullish 
crossover, where the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it will 
reinforce the argument for a rebound. When paired with XRP’s position above 
key support, such a signal could confirm that market sentiment is tilting in 
favor of the bulls. A strengthening MACD histogram, reflecting diminishing 
downside pressure, would further validate this shift and add weight to the 
case for an upward move in the coming sessions. Bulls On Standby: What Needs 
To Happen For A Breakout Several key conditions must be met before momentum 
shifts decisively in the bulls’ favor as XRP’s price action nears the $1.97 
support zone. First, XRP needs to firmly establish $1.97 as a solid base, with 
multiple successful defenses of this level reinforcing buyer confidence. A 
rebound from this zone would signal underlying strength and provide the first 
step toward an upside breakout. Related Reading: XRP Must Break Above $3 To 
Invalidate Bearish Pattern And Flip Bullish – Analyst Secondly, volume needs 
to step in. A breakout without a noticeable increase in trading volume risks 
being a false move. Sustained buying pressure would confirm that market 
participants are positioned for a trend reversal. Additionally, a decisive 
break above nearby resistance levels such as $2.25 or higher would invalidate 
the current consolidation phase and open the door for further gains. Lastly, 
indicators like the RSI and MACD must align with the bullish narrative. A 
rising RSI, without entering overbought territory, and a bullish MACD 
crossover would solidify the technical foundation for an upward move. Featured 
image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP Dips To $1.97 – A Golden Opportunity Before The Next Rally?

Stablecoins rose to popularity as a result of limitations in the US financial 
system &#8212; particularly restricted banking hours and the lack of a non-USD 
trading pair, according to Jerald David, president of Arca Labs.
&#8220;So we start thinking about the reason why, we start talking about the nine- 
to-five banking hours,&#8221; David said during a panel at TokenizeThis 2025 event 
on April 16.
The panel discussion centered on yieldcoins or, essentially, the rising of 
cryptocurrencies that can generate yield through holding, staking or lending, 
like stablecoins.
&#8220;Well, nine-to-five banking hours don&#8217;t work, right? There are implementations 
right now of payment systems that are going to come to market very soon, that 
are a good combination of both yield-bearing instruments as well as 
stabletokens,&#8221; David said.
According to David, the need for stablecoins stems from the fact that the 
traditional US banking infrastructure doesn&#8217;t support round-the-clock 
transactions. &#8220;And this industry, as we all know, is a 24-hour industry.&#8221;
## KYC for stablecoins
Know Your Customer procedures were a significant topic at the panel. One 
representative from Figure Markets said that everyone who owns a yield-bearing 
stablecoin would have to be KYC-ed for tax reasons.
But David pointed out that stablecoins have several use cases beyond yield 
generation, including payments. &#8220;Using this stable token to buy a cup of 
coffee is not something that really should require AML or KYC for somebody.&#8221;
Nick Carmi, head of exchange at Figure Markets, suggested that part of the 
solution could be a trust-based KYC system that allows users to carry their 
credentials across platforms. KYC is a process used by financial institutions 
to verify a user&#8217;s identity. It&#8217;s meant to prevent fraud, money laundering, 
and other illegal activities by ensuring users are who they claim to be.
Currently, users must complete separate KYC checks for each financial 
institution or service they use, creating friction and frustration &#8212; 
especially for those navigating multiple platforms or exploring different 
crypto ecosystems.
_**Magazine: Bitcoin payments are being undermined by centralized 
stablecoins**_

Stablecoins' dominance due to limitations of US banking  — Jerald David

Panama City Mayor has said the Panama District municipality will become the 
first in the nation to accept cryptocurrency payments for services, following 
unanimous approval by the City Council. Unanimous Approval The Panama City 
Mayor Mayer Mizrachi announced on April 15 that the Panama District 
municipality will become the first in the nation to accept […]

Panama City to Accept Crypto for Public Services

Panama&#8217;s capital city will accept cryptocurrency payments for taxes and 
municipal fees, including bus tickets and permits, Panama City mayor Mayer 
Mizrachi announced on April 15, joining a growing list of jurisdictions 
globally that have voted to accept such payments.
Panama City will begin accepting Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Circle&#8217;s USDC 
(USDC), and Tether&#8217;s USDt (USDT) stablecoin for payment once the crypto-to- 
fiat payment rails are established, Mizrachi posted on the X platform.
Mizrachi said previous administrations attempted to push through similar 
legislation but failed to overcome stipulations requiring the local government 
to accept funds denominated in US dollars.
In a translated statement, the Panama City mayor said that the local 
government partnered with a bank that will immediately convert any digital 
assets received into US dollars, allowing the municipality to accept crypto 
without introducing new legislation.
Panama City joins a growing list of global jurisdictions on the municipal and 
state level accepting cryptocurrency payments for taxes, exploring Bitcoin 
strategic reserves to protect public treasuries from inflation and passing 
pro-crypto policies to attract investment.
_Source:__Mayer Mizrachi_
 _**Related:**__**New York bill proposes legalizing Bitcoin, crypto for state 
payments**_
## Municipalities and states embrace digital assets
Several municipalities and territories around the globe already accept crypto 
for tax payments or are exploring various implementations of blockchain 
technology for government spending.
The US state of Colorado started accepting crypto payments for taxes in 
September 2022. Much like Panama City said it will do, Colorado immediately 
converts the crypto to fiat.
In December 2023, the city of Lugano, Switzerland, announced taxes and city 
fees could be paid in Bitcoin, which was one of the developments that earned 
it the reputation of being a globally recognized Bitcoin city.
The city council of Vancouver, Canada, passed a motion to become &#8220;Bitcoin- 
friendly city&#8221; in December 2024. As part of that motion, the Vancouver local 
government will explore integrating BTC into the financial system, including 
tax payments.
North Carolina lawmaker Neal Jackson introduced legislation titled &#8220;The North 
Carolina Digital Asset Freedom Act&#8221; on April 10. If passed, the bill will 
recognize cryptocurrencies as an official form of payment that can be used to 
pay taxes.
_**Magazine:**__**Crypto City: The ultimate guide to Miami**_